Office of the Mayor

Mayor Bowser Announces Immigrant Justice Legal Services Grant Program

Monday, January 9, 2017

(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Bowser announced that the DC Government will provide $500,000 to community-based organizations, private organizations, associations, and law firms that do legal work for immigrants in Washington, DC.

“In Washington, DC we embrace our diversity and strive to be more inclusive. In November, I reaffirmed Washington, DC’s status as a sanctuary city, and now we are doubling down. We must ensure that all District residents can take advantage of their federal and constitutional rights,” said Mayor Bowser. “Through the Immigrant Justice Legal Services grant program, we are ensuring that if immigration enforcement changes and problems arise, DC’s immigrant population will have our support and the support of DC’s legal community.”​

Through the newly created Immigrant Justice Legal Services (IJLS) grant program, the DC Government will fund organizations that:

help prepare asylum applications and provide legal representation at hearings for DC residents;

represent DC residents in deportation proceedings;

protect financial assets and custody for DC children in the face of potential deportation of parents or guardians;

help people and businesses conduct affairs through ITIN numbers;

file any lawsuits that may become necessary to challenging the use of DACA applications for finding or deporting undocumented persons;

help file applications for S, T, U and Special Immigrant Juvenile visas for DC residents or family members of DC residents; and

provide legal help for family reunification efforts for families with at least one DC resident.

The IJLS grant program supports the Bowser Administration’s belief that Washington, DC is strongest and our streets are safest when all District residents can holds jobs, take care of their families, report crimes, and live ordinary lives without fearing deportation.